3) world is too small.

Time passed...

A dull ache pulsed in Ye Chen's head as his consciousness slowly returned.

His body felt heavy, as if he had been submerged in a deep, murky river, struggling to reach the surface.

The feeling of drowning, the feeling of suffocation, and ultimately the feeling of helplessness.

Yet, somehow he managed to reach the surface. Only to have his senses sluggish.

But a faint, earthy scent filled his nose; the smell of damp soil and crushed leaves.

His eyelids fluttered, resisting his attempts to open them like that 'extra five minutes in the early morning', but he forced himself to regain awareness.

Yet, all he saw was Darkness.

His vision remained blurry, the world spinning slightly as he tried to focus.

The side effect of burning the pure essence was still there.

He could hear the distant rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the howling of the cold wind brushing through his body.

'What… happened?'

His last memory was of the battle.

'Huh? I was facing the Lightning tiger and then I burned my pure essence to fight but couldn't win so, I had to use his life-saving jade.

After that, I felt overwhelming exhaustion. I was trying to leave but something... no, it wasn't something rather someone... Someone had touched the back of my head.

Then, a strong aura pressured me and I passed out,'

A sharp pain flared in his temples as Ye Chen's body instinctively tensed recalling his memory.

His fingers twitched, grasping at the dirt beneath him as he tried to push himself up.

'Damn... What is this?'

He said while he threw the animal's poop from his robe.

Eww, disgusting.

It took several seconds before he realized his sword was missing.

He searched here and there, but no.

Ye Chen's eyes snapped open, his vision still hazy but clearer now.

He was lying on the cold forest ground, his robes disheveled, dirt smeared on his hands and arms.

His body felt drained, an emptiness gnawing at his core, his cultivation had dropped, and his vitality was weakened.

But most importantly… his jade sword was gone.

Fuck!

A chill ran down his spine.

He had been robbed.

Ye Chen's breathing quickened.

He instinctively reached for his storage ring, quickly scanning its contents.

His medicinal pills were untouched, and his remaining treasures were still there, but the most valuable item, his sword, was missing.

'Who did this?'

His eyes flickered with sharpness, his mind running despite the exhaustion, like an overworked officer worker.

There had been no signs of another presence before he passed out, yet someone had not only managed to suppress him but also stolen his weapon without leaving a single trace.

It wasn't random robbery.

It was a planned robbery.

He isn't omniscient or the supreme IQ being, but he can easily tell that, the one who stole the sword from him was only interested in the sword.

His fingers clenched into the dirt, his nails digging into the soil.

This wasn't a mere coincidence.

Someone had been watching him and waiting patiently.

Ye Chen gritted his teeth and forced himself into a sitting position.

It was bad luck.

Nope, it is worse luck.

His muscles protested, his spiritual energy barely circulating, but he endured it.

He took a deep breath.

His face sank as he reviewed his current situation.

His cultivation had dropped to the fifth stage of the Qi Master realm.

His jade sword was stolen.

His life-saving jade token was used up.

He was weakened and vulnerable.

He exhaled sharply.

"This… is bad. Am I some kind of pawn dancing in the chessboard without even realizing it?"

For the first time in a long while, Ye Chen felt true powerlessness.

His soul went cold, shivering in horror.

His body was too weak to search for the thief now.

He didn't know if they were still lurking nearby, watching him struggle like a fallen beast.

Nah, that is very unlikely.

For someone to do that much, one must have robbed their ancestors' graves.

How much of a psychopath can one be?

Yet, One thing was clear: whoever stole his sword wasn't ordinary.

Ye Chen's hands tightened into fists.

His pride refused to accept this humiliation.

"I'll get my sword back," he muttered, his voice hoarse but resolute.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

It was the only thing close to him.

He then began to think of people who could steal swords from him.

He hasn't particularly told anyone about his sword, so, the only possibility is someone close to him or, someone who saw him using the sword during the outer disciple battle contest.

He didn't once think of someone else.

Given a choice between 1 to 10, most would choose 7 or any other number.

Who would choose 6.9?

Isn't 6.9 is a number between 1 and 10?

Human psychology is limited just like human life.

For Ye Chen, to pinpoint the actual thief, who he never met, never seen, and even, never heard is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Completely impossible.

---

Meanwhile,

Zhao Fan, was inside the cave of a Tier-4 beast.

A large venomous snake capable of releasing lots of poison miasma, strong defense, and agile.

Yet, Its wife and kids were lying together with it, completely dead.

He successfully managed to refine the jade sword.

At first, he couldn't refine it at all but, once he took the sword inside his conscience, the sword spirit submitted.

Perhaps, it couldn't handle the aura of pagoda or dragon eye.

After that, he analyzed the sword carefully.

He was a little shocked to know it has an "Auto-blood refinement" array.

An array he has never heard.

Not only that but the sword had many enchantments, arrays, and even runes engraved in it.

Plus, The sword Spirit is in the early stages, just awakened the consciousness.

It can't control its body (sword ) or materialize as a spirit.

In a sense, it just exists.

Not to mention, the sword also works as space storage.

But it was completely empty.

--

Zhao Fan, got out of the cave.

One of the overlords was killed just like that.

But, he has no plan to kill the rest of the overlords.

This place was easy for him, as even when holding back, he could easily kill the snake lord and its family.

Nonetheless, he was happy for gain.

Who could have thought, he would meet protagonist.

World is really too small.